Patents by Inventor Keith K. Cargin
Keith K. Cargin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 5539194Abstract: A hand held data entry apparatus having a body for receiving, storing and transmitting information, including a camming mechanism for quickly sealingly attaching an accessory such as a scanner to the top of a hand held data entry apparatus. Additionally, a similar camming mechanism is utilized to hold a battery pack in place with the additional feature of not only pulling the battery pack securely against the housing, but also pushing the battery pack contacts into abutment with complementary contacts disposed within the housing. A keypad is provided for permitting information to be manually entered into the hand held body and this keypad is encased in a layer of elastomeric material such as silicone. A pair of LED's are utilized, one to indicate a "good scan" and the other to indicate something else, such as a "bad scan." Additionally, these LED's can be encased in operative or dummy keys in order to save keyboard space. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the scanner about either of two perpendicular axes.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1995Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Phillip Miller, William T. Gibbs, Robert G. Geers, Ronald L. Mahany, Richard C. Arensdorf, George E. Hanson, Glen S. Adams, James R. Hutton, Arvin D. Danielson, Darald R. Schultz, Keith K. Cargin, Steven E. Koenck, Dennis A. Durbin, Darrell L. Boatwright, Stephen J. Kelly, Alan G. Bunte
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Patent number: 5539193Abstract: A hand held data entry apparatus having a body for receiving, storing and transmitting information, including a camming mechanism for quickly sealingly attaching an accessory such as a scanner to the top of a hand held data entry apparatus. Additionally, a similar camming mechanism is utilized to hold a battery pack in place with the additional feature of not only pulling the battery pack securely against the housing, but also pushing the battery pack contacts into abutment with complementary contacts disposed within the housing. A keypad is provided for permitting information to be manually entered into the hand held body and this keypad is encased in a layer of elastomeric material such as silicone. A pair of LED's are utilized, one to indicate a "good scan" and the other to indicate something else, such as a "bad scan." Additionally, these LED's can be encased in operative or dummy keys in order to save keyboard space. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the scanner about either of two perpendicular axes.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1994Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: William T. Gibbs, Robert G. Geers, Ronald L. Mahany, Richard C. Arensdorf, George E. Hanson, Arvin D. Danielson, Glen S. Adams, James R. Hutton, Darald R. Schultz, Keith K. Cargin, Steven E. Koenck, Phillip Miller, Dennis A. Durbin, Darrell L. Boatwright, Stephen J. Kelly, Alan G. Bunte
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Patent number: 5530619Abstract: A portable, hand-held data collection terminal unit is of modular structure including among other modules a display screen module, a keyboard module and a base module, each of which may be chosen from a plurality of modules available for assembly into the terminal unit. Consequently, a wide combination of terminal units may be assembled from a comparatively limited number of modular choices, such that the cost of assembly of a terminal unit with specific functions may be minimized. A particular selected module is a scanning module including a pivotable scanning head to permit a user to adjust the scanning head to a convenient position for operating the scanning module without sacrifice of visual access to a display screen of the display screen module. The display screen module may be selected from modules of standard width equal to the width of the terminal unit, of extended width extending when assembled to a selected keyboard module beyond either or both lateral edges of the terminal unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Steven E. Koenck, Phillip Miller, Arvin D. Danielson, Ronald L. Mahany, Dennis A. Durbin, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Darald R. Schultz, Robert G. Geers, Darrell L. Boatwright, William T. Gibbs, Stephen J. Kelly
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Patent number: 5517434Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held data terminal has external electrical contact pads which mate with resilient contacts of a docking receptacle for the interchange of data and the supply of charging current to the terminal. The terminal may be loaded into and removed from the docking receptacle in a single motion with one hand. Keyboard and display of the terminal are fully accessible while in the docking receptacle. The terminal may be fully sealed and be completely free of the conventional pin and socket type electrical connector fittings at its exterior. Electrostatic discharge protection is provided by circuit components connected to the surface contact pads so that the sensitive electronic circuitry of the terminal is protected from electrostatic discharge transients.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1993Date of Patent: May 14, 1996Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: George E. Hanson, Keith K. Cargin, Jr.
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Patent number: 5515303Abstract: An improved hand-held computer terminal for use in the route distribution industries. The housing of the terminal provides a keypad and sixteen line display and is molded to fit the grip of the user. Circuit boards within the terminal housing arc modular in arrangement and are connected by pin and socket and compressible interconnect strip connectors. High speed data communication between the device and external devices is available. A battery power sensing circuit disables random access memory when low power is sensed and interrupt circuitry permits the terminal to enter an inactive, sleep mode when keypad activity is absent for a predetermined period. A sensing circuit senses the presence of rechargeable batteries. Electrostatic discharge protection is provided by circuit devices integrated into signal carrying lines and no conductive sheathing is required. A removable end cap allows introduction of auxiliary memory cards or the like into a slot under the end cap.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1994Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Keith K. Cargin, Jr., Ronald L. Mahany, Dennis A. Durbin, Darrell L. Boatwright, Stephen J. Kelly, Darald R. Schultz, William T. Gibbs
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Patent number: 5465207Abstract: A vehicle for transport, fork lift or delivery route operations, for example, includes on-board peripherals which are coupled through a Local Area Network (LAN) into a data system. A LAN data bus provides selective access to the peripherals or data devices such as, for example, a large area display, a keyboard, a printer and a data terminal. The data system controls or provides data on tasks executed by or in connection with the operation of the vehicle. To increase the versatility of the vehicle, the data terminal, multiple data terminals, or any of the other data devices may be removably coupled to the LAN to be operable externally of the vehicle. A mobile mount adapter provides a secure electrical connection of a respective data terminal to the LAN to removably incorporate the data terminal into the data system. The data terminal includes base contact areas which are contacted by spring contacts of the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1992Date of Patent: November 7, 1995Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Darrell L. Boatwright, George E. Hanson, Phillip Miller, Steven E. Koenck, Jerry L. Walter, Joseph J. Kubler, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., Darald R. Schultz, Patrick H. Davis, Steven R. Kunert
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Patent number: 5457629Abstract: A vehicle for transport, fork lift or delivery route operations, for example, includes on-board peripherals which are coupled through a Local Area Network (LAN) into a data system. A LAN data bus provides selective access to the peripherals or data devices such as, for example, a large area display, a keyboard, a printer and a data terminal. The data system controls or provides data on tasks executed by or in connection with the operation of the vehicle. To increase the versatility of the vehicle, the data terminal, multiple data terminals, or any of the other data devices may be removably coupled to the LAN to be operable externally of the vehicle. A mobile mount adapter provides a secure electrical connection of a respective data terminal to the LAN to removably incorporate the data terminal into the data system, and provide a common supply of both data and power to the data device.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1992Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Phillip Miller, Steven E. Koenck, Jerry L. Walter, Joseph J. Kubler, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Patrick H. Davis, Steven R. Kunert, Darald R. Schultz
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Patent number: 5418684Abstract: A portable, hand-held data collection terminal unit is of modular structure including among other modules a display screen module, a keyboard module and a base module, each of which may be chosen from a plurality of modules available for assembly into the terminal unit. Consequently, a wide combination of terminal units may be assembled from a comparatively limited number of modular choices, such that the cost of assembly of a terminal unit with specific functions may be minimized. A particular selected module is a scanning module including a pivotable scanning head to permit a user to adjust the scanning head to a convenient position for operating the scanning module without sacrifice of visual access to a display screen of the display screen module. The display screen module may be selected from modules of standard width equal to the width of the terminal unit, of extended width extending when assembled to a selected keyboard module beyond either or both lateral edges of the terminal unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1994Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Steven E. Koenck, Phillip Miller, Arvin D. Danielson, Ronald L. Mahany, Dennis A. Durbin, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Darald R. Schultz, Robert G. Geers, Darrell L. Boatwright, William T. Gibbs, Stephen J. Kelly
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Patent number: 5410141Abstract: The disclosure relates to battery powered hand-held data entry terminals wherein a peripheral module may contain an automatically operating full image reader and a wireless communication unit. The reader reads at least one full line of indicia and may comprise a laser bar code scanner or a flash type image reader. Preferably the reader has uniform resolution in orthogonal directions in the field of view so that an area image can be read at any arbitrary angular orientation and re-oriented as a stored digital image to a normalized orientation before decoding. The user interface may lie in a first longitudinally extended layer and the peripheral module may lie in a second longitudinally extended adjoining layer. In normal reading disposition of the automatic reader, the user interface may be close to its normal orientation for user interaction therewith to provide for smooth transitions between reading and user interaction operations.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1992Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: NorandInventors: Steven E. Koenck, Phillip Miller, Arvin D. Danielson, Ronald L. Mahany, Dennis A. Durbin, Keith K. Cargin, George E. Hanson, Darald R. Schultz, Robert G. Geers, Darrell L. Boatwright, William T. Gibbs, Stephen J. Kelly
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Patent number: 5371858Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, portable data devices can be coupled with a local area network at any of a multiplicity of points and integrated into the system on a dynamic basis. The preferred system is highly flexible and closely adaptable to changing needs of an individual user. For example, unitary multiple docking devices each receiving a plurality of hand-held computerized data terminals may be chained in a series to a single primary controller which may have a further LAN channel including an auxiliary unit which may supply charging power to a further series of multiple docking devices, added to the system as needed. A preferred auxiliary unit is capable of handling two-way communication without the provision of a direction control line in the channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1992Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Norand Corp.Inventors: Phillip Miller, Robert J. Traeger, Joseph J. Kubler, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Patrick H. Davis, Darald R. Schultz
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Patent number: 5331580Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a portable data device is insertable into a docking receptacle for communication with other devices. In route delivery operations and the like, a hand-held computerized data terminal is coupled with a docking unit for recharging of its batteries and communication e.g. with a printer. Preferably, the terminal can be loaded into the docking receptacle with a single motion. The terminal may be automatically positively locked in the receptacle as it is loaded with one hand; thus the terminal may be securely held in the receptacle of a portable printer even if the printer is dropped or subjected to a severe jolt. Removal may be accomplished by a push button-eject or by a single motion with one hand. The disclosure includes various docking configurations which may have non-critical alignment requirements, provide electrical contacts sealed against moisture, and economically accommodate different size terminals and the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1993Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Phillip Miller, Steven E. Koenck, Jerry L. Walter, Joseph J. Kubler, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Patrick H. Davis, Steven R. Kunert, Darald R. Schultz
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Patent number: 5289378Abstract: A vehicle for transport, fork lift or delivery route operations, for example, includes on-board peripherals which are coupled through a Local Area Network (LAN) into a data system. A LAN data bus provides selective access to the peripherals or data devices such as, for example, a large area display, a keyboard, a printer and a data terminal. The data system controls or provides data on tasks executed by or in connection with the operation of the vehicle. To increase the versatility of the vehicle, the data terminal, multiple data terminals, or any of the other data devices may be removably coupled to the LAN to be operable externally of the vehicle. A mobile mount adapter provides a secure electrical connection of a respective data terminal to the LAN to removably incorporate the data terminal into the data system. The data terminal includes base contact areas which are contacted by spring contacts of the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1993Date of Patent: February 22, 1994Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Phillip Miller, Steven E. Koenck, Joseph J. Kubler, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Patrick H. Davis
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Patent number: 5239662Abstract: In a store data communications system, multiple data sources having disparate communications standards are connected with respective device interfaces of a multiple device communications controller unit. Multiple protocol controllers are coupled with the respective device interfaces and convert the data from each to a common protocol for transmission via a single telephone line. The interface units preferably can be customized to operate with various data sources, a fiber optic coupler, or a modem, or another controller unit for convenient expansion. The device interfaces preferably have snap-in assembly with the controller unit so that device interfaces customized to different standards can be inserted or replaced at any interface receptacle, the multiple protocol controllers preferably being capable of corresponding re-programming by downloading from a remote station preferably via one of the device interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1992Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Arvin D. Danielson, Joseph J. Kubler, Dennis A. Durbin, Michael D. Morris, Keith K. Cargin, Jr.
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Patent number: 5202817Abstract: A portable, hand-held data collection terminal unit is of modular structure including among other modules a display screen module, a keyboard module and a base module, each of which may be chosen from a plurality of modules available for assembly into the terminal unit. Consequently, a wide combination of terminal units may be assembled from a comparatively limited number of modular choices, such that the cost of assembly of a terminal unit with specific functions may be minimized. A particular selected module is a scanning module including a pivotable scanning head to permit a user to adjust the scanning head to a convenient position for operating the scanning module without sacrifice of visual access to a display screen of the display screen module. The display screen module may be selected from modules of standard width equal to the width of the terminal unit, of extended width extending when assembled to a selected keyboard module beyond either or both lateral edges of the terminal unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1990Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Steven E. Koenck, Phillip Miller, Arvin D. Danielson, Ronald L. Mahany, Dennis A. Durbin, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Darald R. Schultz, Robert G. Geers, Darrell L. Boatwright, William T. Gibbs, Stephen J. Kelly
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Patent number: 5195183Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, portable data devices can be coupled with a local area network at any of a multiplicity of points and integrated into the system on a dynamic basis. The preferred system is highly flexible and closely adaptable to changing needs of an individual user. For example, unitary multiple docking devices each receiving a plurality of handheld computerized data terminals may be chained in a series to a single primary controller which may have a further LAN channel including an auxiliary unit which may supply charging power to a further series of multiple docking devices, added to the system as needed. A preferred auxiliary unit is capable of handling two-way communication without the provision of a direction control line in the channel. A preferred LAN system may have unitary printed circuit boards or other rigid network pathways provided with multiple docking receptacles. The control for the LAN system will automatically establish identities for randomly added devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1991Date of Patent: March 16, 1993Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Phillip Miller, Robert J. Traeger, Joseph J. Kubler, Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson, Patrick H. Davis, Darald R. Schultz
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Patent number: 5023823Abstract: In accordance with one illustrated embodiment herein, a personal computer system such as that known as the PC/AT is adaptable by means of its expansion slots so as to provide a multichannel communications capability, with a plug-in communications board providing interrupt vectors to the mother board of the personal computer. A communications distribution configuration for the communications channels does not enlarge the footprint of the system or detract from its appearance. As many as eight communications lines are connectable with the illustrated distribution configuration in a neat and orderly fashion.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1988Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Keith K. Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson
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Patent number: 4972463Abstract: In a store data communications system, multiple data sources having disparate communications standards are connected with respective device interfaces of a multiple device communications controller unit. Multiple protocol controllers are coupled with the respective device interfaces and convert the data from each to a common protocol for transmission via a single telephone line. The interface units preferably can be customized to operate with various data sources, a fiber optic coupler, or a modem, or another controller unit for convenient expansion. The device interfaces preferably have snap-in assembly with the controller unit so that device interfaces customized to different standards can be inserted or replaced at any interface receptacle, the multiple protocol controllers preferably being capable of corresponding re-programming by downloading from a remote station preferably via one of the device interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1986Date of Patent: November 20, 1990Assignee: Norand CorporationInventors: Arvin D. Danielson, Joseph J. Kubler, Dennis A. Durbin, Michael D. Morris, Keith K. Cargin, Jr.